[A small, weak laugh leaves Scott at the small scolding. He doesn't want to say that he suffered through a lot more pain than this to try and be close to her when that literally just happened not too long ago. Too soon. Not to mention he'd never say something like that to her. Instead, he does his best to curl his trembling fingers against her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, truly just trying to soak in this simple touch.

This is familiar. Reassuring. Her transformation to Orpheus was something else entirely and just another incident that Aldrip puts on them. It's the fault of the Black Beast and Fauna's wish seeds. They can start putting all this behind them, right? He won't dream and think of Kotone beating him or how difficult it was to breathe and the moment when he thought he would actually die for once.

All of that is done with. Fully.]

You couldn't control it, no one has been able to. [He reassures her, gently stroking her cheek, not noticing the way he momentarily spaced out there. How he's been overthinking and stuck in memories. He's just been focused on Kotone this entire time, right?]

So, it's okay Kotone. The only thing to blame is the Black Beast, it caused all this. I-I still love you more than anything else.